Early morning hand grip issues

[Rudbeckia007]

I haven't been diagnosed get but aswell as painful hips and shoulders when I wake up my hands feel swollen and I can't grip very well.Do other people have this problem?My joints are very sore when I get out of bed ...but this eases.Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Are you sure it is your joints that are sore or is is more muscular stiffness?

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to PMRpro]

Difficult to tell...I think joints...when I get out of bed I can hardly walk for a few minutes...my hands feel right as if swollen a nd my grip is weak

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rudbeckia007]

But they aren't hot or swollen?

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to PMRpro]

Not hot....look a little swollen but feel tight

[cjc323]

Sounds like remitting symmetric sero-negative synovitis with pitting oedema - I had the same thing. It is associated with PMR and acutely sensitive to steroids. I ended up with what the rheumatologist called a boxing-glove hand. I was quite unable to play my keyboard until one morning I had a steroid injection, whereupon by the evening I was able to play simple things again.

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to cjc323]

Thanks....so it could be PMR....with added benefits??😕😕

[cjc323 in reply to Rudbeckia007]

Possibly. In my case, my hand was swollen from wrist to fingers, with restricted movement and no strength, being unable to form any sort of grip. I did not know about the pitting oedema aspect of it so did not test for it (pressing down on the swelling with a finger should leave a depression which slowly fills when the finger is withdrawn). rs3pe responds quickly to treatment, much more so than PMR in my experience. My hands are symptom free one year on - currently on 8mg prednisolone.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cjc323]

Yes - I was just thinking RS3PE too. What I would like to know is whether it is a more acute thing - I can't find anything about whether it comes back as the dose falls because normally it goes with a moderate dose of pred and isn't seen again.

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi...my ankles aren't swollen but my hand issue has been happening over the past month when my other walking...stiffness etc has been happening too.I'm not on steroids....and haven't seen a doctor yet...I keep hoping it will settle!!I do suspect PMR...as I'm ready to go back to bed at lunchtime!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rudbeckia007]

Then highly likely to be RS3PE syndrome if it does turn out to be PMR. However - "sausage fingers" can be typical for some other inflammatory conditions that can also have a polymyalgic onset.

[Danrower in reply to cjc323]

Yup, sounds just like my experience with RS3PE. The folks on this site are great, and looks like they nailed it. I couldn't open a plastic water bottle for 8 weeks, until low dose prednisone. (12 mg)Took me about 2 years of tapering to have remission.

Best of luck!

[Viv54]

Hi , are your ankles swollen ? it sounds like water retention to me.

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to Viv54]

Ankles def not swollen....seems to be early morning stiffness and if I sit a while my joints are sore The hand thing started about a month ago.Not on steroids...haven't seen the doctor yet.

[Dorsetgirl17]

Went down with swollen sausage fingers when pmr started, pain across the tops of hands and wrists. Couldn’t peel a banana or lift kettle no strength. This disappeared quickly. Now on 2 1/2 the DL slow method.

[Artwatercolour]

I have had a minor flare whilst trying to reduce prednisone - waking up with painful wrist and hand. This is telling me I have to reduce even slower. So yes I can relate to your pain - been there. When do you see your Dr?

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to Artwatercolour]

I haven't made an appointment yet....I'm not on steroids....just hoping it settles with stiffness too in multiple joints.I have been diagnosed with sudden auto immune deafness.....loss of hearing suddenly that has responded to steroids...twice....so have other immune issues

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rudbeckia007]

That can also be associated with GCA

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks...I will get it checked out.

[Hidden]

Yes I get that happening generally in the mornings but fades as the day goes on.

have you had any success with Panadol Osteo?

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to Hidden]

No....paracetamol and ibuprofen don't seem to help really.Tyanks

[Katietee]

Yes, I get this, particularly when trying to reduce steroid dosage.

[Rudbeckia007 in reply to Katietee]

Am not on steroids at this time....but interesting that you get it too.